It's the biggest interprovincial summer in decades. Six HAWKE CUP Challenge Matches in one season, starting right here in CD Land with HAWKE'S BAY stepping out as the reigning Hawke Cup holder to host the first match.

The first two Challenges coming up are 'catch-up Challenges', after the Omicron outbreak forced the postponement of the last two scheduled Challenge matches last summer.

Take two begins with Hawke's Bay hosting last season's Zone 3 winner CANTERBURY COUNTRY at Napier's Nelson Park next month, a three-dayer starting on Friday 4 November.

When those fireworks are over, the winner of that match will host the second catch-up Challenge against the Zone 4 winner from the lower South Island, from 18 November.

The Hawke Cup programme then begins again as normal.

Our six North Island District Associations - Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, Whanganui, Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wairarapa and Taranaki - will compete in the FURLONG CUP to determine the Zone 2 challenger for 2022/23.

If Hawke's Bay is still the reigning Hawke Cup holder and also wins the Furlong Cup, the next best performed District gets the Challenge.

Nelson and Marlborough meanwhile compete in the Zone 3 Hawke Cup qualifiers, against Canterbury's South Island Districts Canterbury Country and Buller.

The Hawke Cup has been locked away in Hawke's Bay's cabinet since early 2021. Manawatu tried to prise it away last summer as the 2022 Furlong Cup winner, but without success.

Hawke's Bay also repelled the Zone 1 Challenger, Bay of Plenty, last season.

RESCHEDULED CHALLENGE MATCHES (from the 2021/22 season)

4-6 November 2022 • Hawke's Bay v Zone 3 Challenger, Canterbury Country

18-20 November 2022 • Hawke Cup Holder v Zone 4 Challenger

CHALLENGE MATCHES 2022/23

After the catch-up Challenges, the normal Hawke Cup Challenge season will begin again in January 2023.

The holder at that time will face a challenge at their home ground with the schedule and livescoring to be found in due course at www.NZC.nz

Entry to Hawke Cup Challenge matches is always free, with the three-day matches always beginning on a Friday.

The 2022/23 Zone 2 Hawke Cup Challenge has been scheduled for 27-29 January 2023 at the Holder's home ground.

Article added: Wednesday 12 October 2022